Okay, all of my other books are solidly YA but with my new WIP I'm not so sure. It's an urban fantasy set in Las Vegas (not totally modern Vegas, more of a retro Vegas with all of the old casinos they knocked down. You know, back when the Strip wasn't all Disneyfied. BTW, I love Disney but it didn't work for my story). My MC is a 15 year old street kid who smokes cigarettes, runs jobs for the mob and falls in love with a young hooker. There's some violence and fade out kinda sex scenes, but I'm actually more worried about the cigarettes. It's not like I want to promote tobacco usage. I smoked as a teenager though (quit in college), so I know how it is. Also, I suppose the sex and violence could be a problem. I know there are plenty of other YA books with these issues (Kevin Brooks comes to mind), but mine isn't a problem novel, they're just things that happen while the main plot is getting sorted out.
I don't want to censor my story, so what do you all think? Should I keep it YA or try for an adult book?
Thanks!
I don't want to censor my story, so what do you all think? Should I keep it YA or try for an adult book?
Thanks!